Permalink for Comment #1378343242 by pikepredator

I really dug the bluegrass segment - I loved the return to bluegrass with Del McCroury in 1999 and Jerry Douglas in 2000 - but I don't re-listen to it. And that's the case with most of this festival. First set is a quality setlist, strong first set, but doesn't have much to re-visit. Wolfman's>Sally>Timber was a blast live and looks great on paper, but just doesn't have as much meat on it's bones as it could've, especially having witnessed Wolfman's>Sally>FrankieSez from 04/02/98.

Wilson>Catapult>Icculus was classic 92-style phishy goodness, way more fun than the closing set of Lemonwheel (since we're comparing these forgotten festivals). Listening back it's fun to reminisce, but if I hadn't been there I'd feel a mix of jealousy and "yeah, I had to be there" for that segment.

OTOH, Jim and Piper are the real deal, and obviously the parts that hold up best on tape. But any five sets of phish will eventually have some big jams!

Overall I had more fun at Oswego than Lemonwheel, despite (and because of) the heat, - it made for some wild stories (tripping friends getting lost and wondering if they were gonna die of heatstroke, drinking too much water, and having to pee too much . . .). Lemonwheel has the two big Set IIs and the ring of fire set, but the experience wasn't quite as unhinged as Oswego. As someone who got into phish listening to 92-94 (but never saw them live until '97) I always get excited when I see a dose of wild and wacky phish.

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